Not only did I really start working my new job this week, but I also had AN. I missed Friday due to work (as I figured I would), but I was there Saturday and Sunday. And DAMN was it cold!! I've been going to AN for 9 years... it has never been as cold as it was this weekend. It was between 9 C to 17 C. Usually, it's between 22C to 30C. And for the most part, cosplayers were ill equipped/poorly dressed for the weather. So much wind, so cold, rained on the thursday, just kinda put everyone off.

I still had my shoots (some cancellations or wardrobe malfunctions, but it's fine, they'll either be rescheduled or we'll shoot again at a later date). I'm currently editing them and I'm hoping to have them done within the next 2-3 weeks (before/after Colossalcon). I've never had 2 cons booked over each other before, so this will be interesting.

Otherwise, AN was awesome! I got to see a lot of old and new friends! Some people I missed entirely, which I am sad about, but hopefully I'll see them at Colossalcon or we'll hang out soon. I picked up some awesome swag!

I got some Tokidoki/Marvel tshirts (I'm obsessed with these shirts now, they're adorable!!), an Iron patriot Pop!Funko bobblehead (which is now part of my growing collection of these cute figures), the Kids on the Slope anime which I was so excited is now available State-side as I love this series, and 2 prints from this awesome artist in AA! I totally forget her name, but her work was amazing! If anyone recognizes her work, let me know who she is, I wanna follow her on dA or tumblr.

I felt so fat after this weekend too. We had sushi twice, then korean, then pupusas, plus a hot dog and ice cream (the food trucks always get me). So much money.... poof! But now that I have a job, I feel better about it. XD

Only thing that got to me this weekend was the fact that my friend kaiser-mony had an Artist Alley table, which her boyfriend was helping her with, and if they wanted to walk around, I'd watch it for them. This has never really been an issue before (except at Otakuthon last year), but I was kicked out from behind the table by staffers just because I didn't have a helpers badge. I usually help out with her table at every con we go to, so this was kinda new for us. So what ended up happening on Sunday was I would stand in front of the table to watch it, would talk to people who were interested, and have to run around, back and forth if they wanted to buy something. It looked so sketchy when I would reach around to get the money box in the back from the front of the table, with no one behind it. It looked like I was stealing from them. Luckily we didn't do this much because I was standing the whole time and they just left for about 10-15 min intervals. But seriously? The staff is kinda of ridiculous about this. We even went up to the people organizing the tables and asked if I could just watch the table for them so they could walk around for a bit. They were like "Absolutely not!". Geez, calm down. I'm acting on behalf of the artist, she wants me there. I think they have an issue for 2 reasons: a) they don't want a million people behind the tables (which I understand), and b) they don't want to be held responsible if someone who isn't a helper or artist steals something. You know what, if the artists says, "I'm putting this person at my table to watch it and sell stuff for me because my helper and I want to enjoy the con for a bit together. If something gets stolen, I'll hold either myself or that person responsible, not the convention." I think some con regulations are getting a little too... well, regulated. Like, guys... calm down. It's an anime con. We're here to have fun, make some money, and build a community. The rules should be so everyone is safe and able to enjoy themselves. Does it really matter if someone helping an artist isn't a "helper"? Some people may say "well, they have to do that to make sure a bunch of people don't go behind the tables" I get that. But when it's JUST me watching the table for the artist can go to the bathroom, or go buy a print, or hell, even to show off their cosplay, does it really matter?

Anyways, enough of that!

Overall, exhausting and fun weekend! It comes and goes so quickly every year!

BTW, remember for Colossalcon peeps I'm shooting, I'll be sending out an email this weekend with final details, like meeting location. I will not be giving my cell number as I don't want roaming or text charges, so email me/note me if you need to contact me during con hours. Again, if you can't make a shoot for whatever reason, let me know, even if it's an hour before we're supposed to shoot. I'll greatly appreciate it and I won't hold it against you.

It was great seeing you! Even though we only managed to run into each other briefly haha everything is so hectic at AN x'DApollon is such a great series! I love it too! I was looking at it, so tempted to buy it there. I may have to just get it online haha

Last year I had a friend help me bring my things back to my car from the artist alley. Well, I would have but they laughed at us and went "No no no, this isn't happening" and kicked him out before I could get my things in my bags. They're really kind of stupid when it comes to things like that, it wasn't like he was trying to sneak around and stay all of the extra time. The year before I had no problems like that and didn't even see any of the staff, the girl beside me was doing henna and bringing people behind the tables to do it :/

I just wonder, do they think that all people who get into Artist Alley have no friends helping them? that everyone is just trying to sneek their way into the con (which makes no sense when the con is over and we're packing up). luckily they came by right when we were done packing and we said, "we gone. bye bye"

Yeah really. I was sharing with another artist who had her own load of things to take care of. Apparently they were much worse a few years ago and people actually stopped attending because of it. I think they had a 1 person at the table at a time limit and the staff screamed at people for being behind the tables even if they were just switching. At least it's not like that anymore.